Clasp



L. H. BEST July 20, 1965 CLASP Filed NOV. 20, 1963 Invenfior LEON BEST United States Patent Ofi" 3,135,733 Fatented July 2% 1965 3,195,733 CLASP Leon H. Best, Galva, ilL, assignor to John H. Best ti: Sons, Inc., Galva, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 324,984 1 Claim. ((31. 211-45) This invention relates to a clasp adapted to support a rug sample or the like for inspection and visual observation.

One way of displaying rectangular pieces of rug samples is to place them on a rack and secure each of the rug samples individually by small clasps fitted into slotted channels in the rack. The result is a cascade array, and to observe any one of the interior rug samples, it is necessary to rotate the rug samples thereabove, and hence the clasp holding the rug sample should facilitate such rotational movement of the rug samples. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to facilitate display of rug samples or the like by so constructing a clasp as to have a portion which is adapted to be secured to a display rack, and which pivotally mounts the clamping portion of the clasp for rotational movement to facilitate displaying of rug samples. A related object of the present invention is to afford a pivotal portion on a clasp which facilitates the securing of the clasp to a supporting channel, and which enables a more compact display of rug samples or the like to be realized.

Specifically, an object of the present invention is to construct a clasp having a cross head portion adapted to be inserted into a slotted opening and having a clamping portion hinged to said crosshead portion of said clasp so that said clamping portion is free to rotate about the crosshead portion. According to a more specific object of the invention, the crosshead portion is formed from a wire member having the ends curled into receiving hooks for encircling a bail on said clamping portion, thereby permitting said bail and clamping portion to rotate about said crosshead.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claim and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what is now considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as de sired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claim.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rug display rack of the type capable of employing the clasp;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the display rack without the rugs thereon;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a channel with a clasp attached thereto;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the clasp holding a rug sample;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the clasp operatively holding a rug sample While secured in a channel;

FIG. 6 is a view showing the clasp in its open position; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 3, showing the slot in the channel.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is disclosed a typical rug sample display rack of the so-called waterfall type having a main curved body portion supported by a pair of rear legs 13, and spaced front legs 14. Disposed on a top surface of the main body portion 12 are four separate channel members 16, which can be suitably secured by fasteners 18 or the like to the main body portion 12. Each of the channels 16 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 20 which are aligned in transverse rows.

A small clasp 25 is clamped to each of the rug samples at four spaced locations, which correspond to the spacing between the four channels 16, so that when the crosshead 26 of a T-shaped connector 27 associated with a clasp 25, FIG. 4, is inserted into one of the longitudinally extending slots 28 and rotated through to the position shown in FIG. 3, the crosshead 26 secures the clasp 25 to its respective channel 16.

The present invention is directed to the clasp 25 which includes a T-shaped connector 27 pivotally mounted or hinged relative to a clamping portion 28, the clasp 25 of such hinged construction having particular efficacy in the display of rug samples or the like. It is to be understood that the clasp 25 is not limited to use with a particular waterfall type of display rack, but is capable of use with such types of racks which have slots directly in the upper surface 15 rather than being provided with separate channels, and is capable of use with slotted channels mounted directly on a wall so as to provide a hanging display for a rug sample to form a so-called color wall.

The T-shaped connector 27 on the clasp 25 is formed preferably from a one-piece wire member having the end portions bent to afford an eye 30, FIG. 4, which encircles a wire bail 32 on the clamping portion 28. The wire member afiording the connector 27 is formed to include a shank portion 35 extending upwardly from the hook portion 30 to the crosshead portion 26. As best seen in FIG. 5, the shank 35 is adapted to rest on the lower edge 36 of the slot 20, and to be inclined at an angle relative to the bail 32 and clamping portion 28 of the clasp 25.

As should be most apparent from FIG. 5, a rug sample can be grasped and pivoted about the hook or eye portion 30, thereby facilitating the inspection of mg samples and the pivoting thereof. Additionally, there is a limited amount of sidewise or transverse movement possible between the connector 27 and the portion 28, thereby facilitating the insertion of the crosshead 26 into a slot 20. Additionally, it has been found that the provision of the hinged connector portion 27 over a one-piece non-hinge crosshead portion enables the rug display to be a more compact one since the rug sample will not hang downwardly as far with the crosshead portion extending at the angle shown in FIG. 5, rather than at an angle more nearly approaching the vertical as in a unitary, one-piece, clasp.

The clamping portion 28 of the clasp 25 is adapted to clamp the rug sample between a pair of jaws including a non-movable jaw 40, FIG. 6, and a movable jaw 41, each of which jaws has inwardly directed tooth-clamping members 42 at the lower ends thereof. The non-movable clamping jaw 40 has at an upper portion a pair of spaced ear portions 43 with aligned apertures 44 for receiving tangs 45 of a manually operable member 46, which, when pivoted from the position shown in FIG. 6 to that shown in FIG. 5, rotates a right angle camming portion 48 to cam the movable clamping jaw 41 into clamping engagement with the rug sample. The bail 32 is secured to the clamping jaw 44} and 41 by inwardly directed shoulders 50, FIG. 4, seated under a forwardly directed flange 51 on the fixed clamping jaw 44). Thus, the bail 32 is secured to the clamping jaws as and ll and in turn the crosshead 2'7 is hinged to the bail 32 to form the clasp 25.

In View of the foregoing, it will be seen that the clasp 25 facilitates the display of samples by means of a unique 3 pivotal T-shaped connector 2'7, which is hinged to a clamping portion 28. Thus, the clamping portion 28 and the rug sample attached'thereto, can be efiicaciously attached to a slotted display stand and rotated about the connector 27 to facilitate displaying of rug samples or the like.

Hence, while preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, it is to be understood that they are capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth,- but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claim.

r I claim: f

In a rug display device, a rug display stand having a main body portion with a support surface extending obliquely upward and adapted to display a series of rug samples or'the like thereon; a plurality of slotted channel members secured to said main body portion of said display stand, each of said channel members having a plurality of longitudinally extending slots, said slots 'on said individual channel members being aligned in transverse rows, and a plurality of clasps for attaching said rug samples to said stand, each of said clasps having a rigid, T-shaped connector of one piece wire form including a shank, an eye at one end of the shank and a crosshead at the other end of the shank, said crosshead being insertable in a slot of said channel member and turned in a'transverse direction to be retained therein, said clasp including a pair of releasable clamping jaws adapted to clamp the rug sample, said clamping jaws being hinged to said connector, said clasps being attachable to the same rug sample being in the same transverse row of slots to hold said rugs in cascade fashion on said main body portion, said shank being extendible through one of said slots to position said eye adjacent the bottom of said slot but free of said slot to extend outward thereof in close proximity to a support surface of said body portion, and a bail member pivotally mounted in. said eye and connected to said clamping jaws for pivotal movement of said clamping jaws and said rug sample about said eye adjacent the bottom of said slot.

7 References liter by the Examiner V UNITED STATES PATENTS 286,958

10/83 531,863 1/95 Russel 24265 2,755,052 7/56 Jennens 248303 2,919,812 1/60 Best et a1 211 2,946,454 7/60 Asher 2ll45 2,964,198 12/60 Eisbart 211-45 3,145,963 8/64 Best et al. 248-223 CLAUDE A LE ROY, Primary Examiner. FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner.

Pratt 24--222 

